Burford Capital is actively entering the Korean market. Burford Capital is one of the leaders in litigation finance worldwide. The firm just announced the appointment of a Korean representative for its presence in Korea. Burford noted to a local vernacular that it plans to focus on international disputes involving Korean companies, including international arbitration, cross-border disputes, and intellectual property disputes. It, also, shall focus on “non-core pre-monetization” model and “portfolio-based financing.” The non-core pre-monetization model allows companies to secure capital liquidity by monetizing non-core assets such as
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Korean Supreme Court Statute of Limitation Holding on the May 18 Democratization Movement Uprising
The Supreme Court of Korea overturned a lower court’s ruling that the statute of limitations had expired in a lawsuit filed by the families of the alleged victims of the “May 18 Democratization Movement” (May 18, 1980). The full bench of the Korean Supreme Court ruled that courts in Korea should consider the circumstances that made it difficult for the families to file a lawsuit due to past compensation payments and the presumption of settlement clause. For additional articles on the Korean Statute of Limitations, please see: Korean
Continue readingCan Bitcoin and Other Digitial Assets be Seized under Korean Criminal Procedure Act by the Korean Police & Prosecution?
The Korean Supreme Court ruled that Bitcoin stored in virtual asset exchanges such as Upbit and Bithumb is subject to seizure under the Korean Criminal Procedure Act. Facts Korean Supreme Court Holding The Supreme Court of Korean opined that “virtual assets are electronic certificates that have economic value and can be traded or transferred electronically (Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users, etc.), and Bitcoin is a type of virtual asset that can be independently managed through electronic wallets, etc.,
Continue readingKorean Litigation Disclosure Requirements under the Korean Capital Markets Act
In a precedent-setting decision, the Supreme Court of Korea clarified the scope of disclosure obligations under the Korean Capital Markets Act, holding that the requirement to disclose “lawsuits that will have a significant impact on securities” is limited to lawsuits directly concerning securities themselves, and does not extend to all lawsuits merely because they may affect a company’s stock price. On December 4, 2025, the Korean Supreme Court’s Second Civil Division overturned part of the lower court’s judgment in a shareholder damages action against the CEO and
Continue readingIPG Legal Expert Opinions on Korean Law for Foreign Courts and Law Firms
As complex cross-border litigation, arbitration, and international transactions continue to increase in Korea, foreign courts and overseas counsel are frequently required to apply or assess Korean law and the Korean legal system. In such cases, accurate and nuanced interpretation of Korean statutes, judicial precedent, and regulatory practice is essential. IPG Legal regularly works with foreign lawyers and courts to provide expert opinions on matters governed by Korean law. We often appear in court and provide legal opinions worldwide. The Role of Korean Law Expert Opinions in Cross-Border
Continue readingBest Practices for Disciplining/Terminating Employees in Korea under the Korean Labor Standards Act
Employee discipline is one of the most frequent sources of labor disputes in Korea. Even where misconduct or underperformance appears clear, employers in Korea often lose cases before the Labor Relations Commission and the Korean courts due to procedural defects, insufficient documentation, lack of proactivity, and disproportionate sanctions. Korean labor law places strict limits on an employer’s disciplinary authority, and compliance requires more than simply identifying employee fault. For the basics of terminating an employee in Korea, please see: Termination of an Employee in Korea. For an
Continue readingFree Speech Protection in Korea vs. the United States: How Public Insults Can Be Criminal in Korea and lead to deporation, but Protected Speech in the U.S.
Freedom of expression is constitutionally protected in both South Korea and the United States, but the legal boundaries of protected speech differ sharply. One of the most striking differences lies in how each system treats offensive or degrading speech directed at individuals. A recent decision of the Changwon District Court (October 30, 2024; 2025GoJeong341) highlights this contrast. In that case, verbal remarks protected under the U.S. First Amendment resulted in criminal liability for “insult” under Korean criminal law. For those in Korea on a visa, these types
Continue readingPunitive Damages Under Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act: The Coupang Data Breach Incident
The recent Coupang personal information leak incident has renewed discussion in Korea on the scope and effectiveness of punitive damages under Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and also the extension of punitive damages beyond this act. Although the statute permits limited, capped punitive damages in certain circumstances, Korean courts have been conservative in applying these provisions, and several structural issues continue to limit their practical effect. Lawyers in Korea are increasingly criticizing the legal system for providing inadequate damages to the injured. We shall update the
Continue readingKorean Insurance Fraud: Supreme Court of Korea Holds Concealing the Full Details of an Accident Insurance Fraud
The Supreme Court of Korea has held that concealing the full circumstances of an electric kickboard accident constitutes insurance fraud in Korea. On September 25, 2025, the Korean Supreme Court’s 3rd Criminal Division (Presiding Justice Noh Kyung-pil) reversed an acquittal at a Korean appellate court for a Defendant charged with violating the Korean Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud. The Court reversed and remanded the case to the Jeju District Court with a guilty verdict (2024 Do 11951). All cases concerning the potential for a
Continue readingKorean Crypto & Investment Scams: Korean Prosecutors & Courts are Stepping Up
Investment scams in Korea promising “guaranteed profits” and/or “principal protection” continue to spread rapidly across online group chats and ”reading rooms.” Many victims in Korea and abroad are approached with too-good-to-be-true offers through KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Naver Band. Recent Korean court rulings demonstrate that authorities in Korea are responding firmly to fraud and handing down significant prison sentences to those convicted by Korean courts. Recent Korean Court Holdings on Korean Crypto & Investment Scams Seoul Northern District Court (August 2024) (Case No. 2024godan3283)Four individuals were sentenced
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